Functionalism and Religion

What does religion give us?

allows us to express collective beliefs concerning social commitment and social solidarity

a way for people to affirm common values, beliefs and ideals

produce a collective consciousness

explains the inexplicable

provides a central value system

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Durkheim (1912)

'religion is a unified system of beliefs and practices relative to sacred things, that is, things set apart and forbidden which unite into one single moral community - called a church - all those who adhere to them'

There is a difference between the sacred and profane

Totemism

simplest and most basic religion

a clan is a large extended family who share duties and obligations

the totem is an emblem of the clan and is sacred, a symbol of their god

worshipping the totem is like worshipping their own society

Collective Conscience

gives our thinking conceptuality

ability to share thoughts

origin of all thoughts, reason and science

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Durkheim continued

Cognitive Functions of Religion

shared norms and values

maks cooperation

without it society would disintergrate

maintain social integration

suggests we are part of something greater

Evaluation

differences between the sacred and profane are imagined

ignores conflict within religion

doesnt apply within contempary society

unsound evidence for totemism

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Malinowski (1954)

Identifies certain areas of religion and attaches them with emotional stress and threats to social solidarity, these are crises of life

birth, death, puberty, marriage

all crises of life are surrounded by religious ritual

Death

most disruptive crises of life

funeral cermonies

mourners support the berieved

socially destructive

group unites

Fishing in the lagoon

fishing in the lagoon is safe and predictable with no ritual

fishing in the ocean is dangerous and unpredictable and so requires ritual

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Parsons (1967)

human action is directed and controlled by norms

religion is part of a culutural system that provide guidelines for us

adresses particular problems

Religion and Social Order

individuals are hit by events they can not forsee - religion is a mechanism for adjustment and as a means of restoring normality

the is a problem of uncertainty - always will be unknown, provides a means of adjusting and coming to terms